Sunshine Network Signs Deal To Broadcast Florida Panthers

Sports this morning - Sunrise headliners

July 14, 1993|By Jerry Greene of The Sentinel Staff

The cable Sunshine Network signed a 3-year contract for broadcasting rights to the Florida Panthers hockey team, but the Panthers will not be seen on Sunshine in the Orlando area because the Tampa Bay Lightning have territorial rights.

''We consider Orlando an important part of our area,'' Lightning Vice President Jerry Helper said. ''After all, we are playing five games over there.''

A large portion of Sunshine's viewers cannot see the Lightning, either. CableVision of Central Florida refuses to pay Sunshine for Lightning games.

Sunshine also expects to strike a 5-year contract with the the Miami Heat of the NBA in the near future.